Advice for Artists – Roy Connelly

Outdoor Painting Workshop

Leave a Comment / Advice for Artists, On Location, Teaching / Roy

I will be teaching a plein air oil painting workshop at Assington Mill in Suffolk on Saturday 17th September 2016. Based at a 17th century watermill in 70 acres of private nature reserve, it would be hard to find a more perfect location to hone your outdoor oil painting skills.

Book Now

The one day course on Saturday 17th September 2016 will cover the follow topics.

Equipment
Materials
Setting up outside
Working methods and techniques
Short cuts
Finishing paintings on location
Getting your wet oil paintings home again

All for just £95 with the added bonus of delicious home-made lunch in the farmhouse kitchen, biscuits and cakes throughout the day.

For those already familiar with outdoor painting this is a great opportunity to paint at this fabulous location and for those a little nervous of working in public this secluded landscape is perfect. We will have the freedom of this 70-acre private nature reserve with stunning views.

Book Now

For online bookings and information please visit AssingtonMill.com.

For information and telephone bookings contact Anne Holden on:
Tel: 01787 229955
Mobile: 07770 550570
Email: info@assingtonmill.com

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Outdoor Painting Course

Leave a Comment / Advice for Artists, On Location / Roy

Join me at Assington Mill in Suffolk for a one day workshop to further your plein air painting skills.

This practical course is for those who already have some oil painting experience and want to paint outside in a wild and beautiful setting. Painting landscapes en plein air has a distinguished history but, with many painters today relying on photography, the craft of the landscape painter is being lost.

Working in the grounds of the mill and the surrounding private nature reserve, we will focus on producing a series of completed oil paintings by direct observation.

You can find full details and booking info here.

But hurry, it’s filling up fast and places are limited.

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Landscape Painting Workshop in Suffolk

Leave a Comment / Advice for Artists, On Location / Roy

Join me for a day’s outdoor painting in this beautiful and hidden corner of Suffolk. If you want to paint the world around you, to get outside and capture the effect of light on the landscape without relying on copying photographs, then come along to this one day workshop.

Working close by the mill and in the surrounding private nature reserve we will paint a series of landscapes by direct observation. This course is aimed at oil painters of all levels who want to work confidently in the great outdoors (you are welcome to use acrylics if you prefer).

The wonderful surroundings of this secluded location are ideal. Situated at the end of a long track down into one of Suffolk’s beautiful ‘hidden valleys’ Assington Mill has great views and plenty of cover so we can still work outside even if the weather turns bad.

The artistic heritage of this part of Suffolk is immense with John Constable, Thomas Gainsborough, Alfred Munnings and John Nash all living and painting within a few miles. In fact, Assington Mill was once owned by a John Constable – a relative of the painter himself.

This every practical day begins witha look at the range of plein air painting equipment now available to the outdoor artist. From traditional French easels and pochade boxes to ultra light-weight palette and panel holders from the US.

All with the added bonus of home-made lunch, biscuits and cakes throughout the day.

14th September 2014, 10am – 5pm with the option of staying on in the evening
Assington Mill, Bures Road, Assington, Suffolk, CO10 5LZ

Bring your usual oil painting kit including an easel suitable for outdoor use and outdoor clothing.

Book Now, or find out more.

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Outdoor Painting Workshop

Leave a Comment / Advice for Artists, On Location / Roy

Craft of the Landscape Painter
Assington Mill

If you want to be able to paint the world around you, to get outside and capture the effect of light on the landscape without resorting to copying photographs, then this one day workshop is for you.

Working close by the mill and in the surrounding private nature reserve we will paint a series of landscapes by direct observation. This course is aimed at oil painters of all levels although you are welcome to use acrylics if you prefer.

For those nervous of working out in the open the secluded location is ideal, at the end of a long track down into one of Suffolk’s beautiful ‘hidden valleys’ between Constable’s Stour Valley and Gainsborough’s home town.

All with the added bonus of home-made lunch, biscuits and cakes throughout the day.

September 2013, 10am – 5pm with the option of staying on in the evening
Assington Mill, Bures Road, Assington, Suffolk, CO10 5LZ
Want to know more? View the pdf brochure
What to bring. Your usual oil painting kit including an easel suitable for outdoor use and outdoor clothing.

Click image above to read the brochure (pdf)

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Plein Air Course 2013

Leave a Comment / Advice for Artists, On Location / Roy

I’m very pleased to say I’ll be teaching my Craft of the Landscape Painter course at Assington Mill in Suffolk again this September.

Working in the grounds of the mill and the surrounding private nature reserve we will focus on producing a series of completed landscapes by direct observation. For those nervous of working out in the open the secluded location is ideal, at the end of a long track down into one of Suffolk’s beautiful ‘hidden valleys’ between Constable’s Stour Valley and Gainsborough’s home town.

When: September 2013, 10am – 5pm with the option of staying on in the evening
Where: Assington Mill, Assington, Suffolk, CO10 5LZ
What: Take a look at the pdf brochure

Below: Click to read the brochure (pdf)

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Which easel or pochade and tripod for Plein Air Painting?

8 Comments / Advice for Artists, On Location / Roy

People often ask about the best equipment for plein air painting so here is a look at my kit and some links to suppliers.

I have two kinds of easel that I use outside: a French Easel and a panel/palette holder on a tripod.

The French easel is the one that looks most like a traditional easel. It’s made of wood, has a tray on the back to rest my brushes, brush washer/turps can etc. There is a drawer at the front to store tubes of paint and the palette sits on top of this. It’s a very versatile piece of kit that can support anything from a tiny board a few inches high to large canvas four feet across.

Jullian Half box French Easel

I also have a more lightwight kit in the form of a Palette/Panel Holder from Open Box M. This sits on a tripod with a quick release plate and has a small shelf for brushes, dipper etc. A spring clamp system holds panels up to 20 inches across.

The tripod I use with my pochades and Open Box M panel holder is a Velbon Ultra Rexi L. It’s light weight, packs up small and is very sturdy. The legs are able to open out wide which is great for setting up in windy locations and when set up normally it takes up very little room – ideal for street scenes. I recommend using a tripod head with a quick release plate as that allows you to set up and dismantle your kit quickly. I have found a small Manfrotto ball head is ideal, it’s compact in size and rock solid.

The tripod I use isn’t made anymore but here are some links to similar items that may be useful to you:

Velbon Ultra 655 – updated replacement for the Ultra Rexi L.

Calumet Carbon Fibre Tripod – I haven’t tried this but it looks good!

K&F Concept Aluminium Tripod – Again, I haven’t used this personally but looks good for those on a budget.

Manfrotto 494 Ball Head

Painting at Lands End.
Pochade: Open Box M. Tripod: Velbon Ultra Rexi L.

Please note: Some of these links may go to amazon.co.uk. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
This does not affect the price you pay.

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Are you an artist?

1 Comment / Advice for Artists / Roy

Painting outside is a great way to capture a scene. You experience the changing light first hand and also get to meet people who are interested in your work – people like the guy in this short animation I created. The video is just a bit of fun but the questions are genuine, if you paint outside I’m sure you’ll recognise them…

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Plein Air Workshop

Leave a Comment / Advice for Artists, On Location / Roy

In September I will be teaching a plein air oil painting workshop at Assington Mill in Suffolk. Based at a 17th century watermill in 70 acres of private nature reserve, it would be hard to find a more perfect location to hone your outdoor oil painting skills. Book Now

The one day course on Sunday 23rd September 2012 will cover the follow topics.

Equipment
Materials
Setting up outside
Working methods and techniques
Short cuts
Finishing paintings on location
Getting your wet oil paintings home again

All for just £85 with the added bonus of home-made lunch, biscuits and cakes throughout the day.

For those already familiar with outdoor painting this is a great opportunity to paint at this fabulous location. We will have the freedom of this 70-acre private nature reserve with stunning views.

Book Now

View the pdf brochure for Craft of The Landscape Painter.

For online bookings and information please visit AssingtonMill.com.

For information and telephone bookings contact Anne Holden on:
Tel: 01787 229955
Mobile: 07770 550570
Email: info@assingtonmill.com

Plein Air Workshop Read More »

River Thames in Winter

3 Comments / Advice for Artists, On Location, Paintings / Roy

I painted this last winter. I have posted it today because it features in an article I wrote on plein air painting in winter that has just been published in The Artist magazine.

Its quite big for a plein air painting, 20 x 36 inches on stretched linen, and it was painted in a single rather cold session.

Above: A very early stage in the painting. I have very roughly blocked in the main areas of the composition.